John Kelly (Labour)

As other Senators noted, we are approaching the 11th hour for payment of the household charge and there is still confusion. I, for one, am now totally confused.

It is bad that some legislators are advocating the people to break the law, but it is worse when officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government either misinform people about who should pay or else they, too, are misinformed. Last Thursday I had a telephone call from a lady in the west who has a post office attached to her private residence. She asked me to find out how she could get an exemption in order that she would not have to pay, in the knowledge that ratepayers did not pay the charge. When I contacted the Department the official told me that she must pay the household charge as well as rates. He cited section 2(2)(d ) of the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 as evidence of the reason those with such businesses should pay the household charge. On Monday, through the post, everybody got a leaflet setting out those liable to pay. It also set out among the exemptions any residential property subject to commercial rates and wholly used as a dwelling. Therefore, they are exempt. I contacted the lady after I received the leaflet and she told me the president of the Irish Postal Workers Union had told people in her situation that they are liable for the charge. Given the confusion, I ask the Leader to clarify the issue with the Minister.

Once the 31 March deadline has expired there should be a grace period of 30 days for those who have received mixed messages because of legislators telling him they should not pay. They should be given time to pay. We must be mindful that there are people who can only pay the €100 charge in the same way as they pay their television licence, by buying a stamp every week and when the money is raised, the debt is paid off. That means of payment should still be considered.